Charles Dennis Tatge

Charles "Chuck" Dennis Tatge, 77, of Appleton, died on Monday, April 29, at the Appleton Area Health Service-Hospital. Visitation will be held from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, with a 6:30 pm prayer service, on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Appleton. Visitation will continue on Monday, May 5, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, followed by the funeral service at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be of your choice or to the Zion Lutheran Church of Appleton, the Appleton American Legion, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, or the Appleton Cancer Transportation Fund. Zniewski Funeral Home-Vaala Chapel of Appleton is assisting the family with the arrangements. Charles Dennis Tatge was born May 3, 1947, to Orville and Mary (Strom) Tatge. He was baptized and confirmed at Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church in Six Mile Grove Township. He attended Country School District 88 for grades one through seven and graduated from Benson High School with the Class of 1965. During high school Chuck participated in Junior High football and lettered in wrestling. During his school years Chuck was active in 4-H, winning some state fair trips for exhibiting chickens. Chuck attended Northern State University from 1965 to 1969, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. His wrestling earned him two letters at Northern. After college, he married Bonnie Tingle and they had three children: Tina, Chad, and Grant. After one year of teaching and coaching at Appleton Schools, Uncle Sam called with a draft notice. This was at a time when the Vietnam War was winding down, and Chuck became a company clerk – you know like Radar on M*A*S*H. In 1972, he was given an Honorable Discharge with the Army Commendation Medal. Chuck was a member of the American Legion and AMVETS. Upon returning to Appleton, Chuck taught school and coached for 14 more years. Employment until retirement was as a rural mail carrier for the U. S. Post Office. Chuck has served at Zion Lutheran Church of Appleton in many different ways. He was the President and Vice President of the Church Council, and held other council positions, mainly Youth Ministry. He chaperoned three national youth gatherings. For 19 years, he taught seventh grade confirmation classes. He really enjoyed the following year when the pastor (who taught the eighth graders) would ask, “How did you handle this one or that one?” Chuck answered, “That comes from a lot of years of teaching.” Activities that Chuck enjoyed were pheasant hunting, golfing, playing softball, and bowling. “Unhook the plow!” was a phrase he heard often on the softball field. But at bowling, where speed did not matter, he once had a 180 average for the year of league play. He loved all sports, especially the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Gophers. On October 12, 1996, Chuck and Sandy were married. Chuck gained three stepchildren: Marcia, Mark, and Melanie. They marked their lives together by gathering family together. Each summer they hosted “Tatge Fun Day” at their farm place. Aunts, uncles, kids, and grandkids gathered together for root beer floats, croquet, and many, many water balloons that grandpa filled up. Chuck gathered the family together in the garden, taking them on an adventure to find their name carved on a pumpkin, a special tradition for family and beyond - neighbors, friends, and more – over 300 names. This special pumpkin tradition was featured in the Appleton Press Newspaper and on PBS Pioneer Public Television in 2020. Many times, Chuck and Sandy had long drives and flights to gather with kids and grandkids in North Dakota, Florida, and Alaska. Chuck spent many hours attending and filming grandkids’ events and activities throughout the years. In 2013, Chuck and Sandy had the opportunity to travel to Israel and the Holy Land, a trip they treasured. Chuck brought family together for every holiday with Easter egg hunts, trumpet games (which he usually won with his blue piece – not sure how he managed that), and prayers around the table from “Apple Seed” prayer and “Let’s all pray for ____ and ____” song. Chuck kept his faith in Christ at the center of his life, even as he was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. Through many days spent at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, family continued to come together, visiting him during the ups and downs in health, and gathering to pray, sing, laugh, and cry together as they said good-bye to their faithful father, husband, uncle, grandpa, great-grandpa, and friend. Chuck was called from this life on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, surrounded by his family, at the Appleton Hospital in Appleton, Minnesota. Chuck held on to Psalm 31:15 “Lord, my time is in Your hands.” His family now gathers knowing he, indeed, is in the Lord’s hands. Chuck had a favorite saying: “Every day is a holiday and every meal, a banquet.” Chuck is survived by his wife of 28 years Sandy Tatge; children: Tina (Curt) Baldwin, Chad (Marisol) Tatge, and Grant (Rachel) Tatge; stepdaughters: Marcia (Brad) Wehe, Melanie (Duncan McDonald) Cairns, and Mark’s fiancée Tina Matter; grandchildren: Jalen (Ali) Baldwin, Ali (Austin) Bettenhausen, Brett Baldwin, Laura (Matthew) Marlow, Patience (Iain) Sims, Zealous Tatge, Justice Tatge, Mercy Tatge, Solace Tatge, and Anthony Tatge; Step grandchildren: Kelsey (Joe) Demester, Karlee Wehe, Matthew Wehe, and Alex McDonald; great-grandchildren: Miah, Judah, and Jovie Bettenhausen, and Chiara Baldwin; step great-grandson Henry Demester; brothers: Richard (Sharon) Tatge, Doug (Pat) Tatge, Paul Tatge, and Lyle (Donna) Tatge; sister Marlene (Byron) Giese; sister-in-law Audrey Forrette; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Chuck remembered 114 family members on their birthdays and anniversaries and wrote the family Christmas letter each year. Chuck was preceded in death by his parents Orville and Mary Tatge, parents-in-law Gilman and Alice Quaal, sister Sylvia Deline, stepson Mark Cairns, grandparents, many aunts, uncles, and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be of your choice or to Zion Lutheran Church of Appleton, Appleton American Legion, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, or Appleton Cancer Transportation Fund. Blessed be his memory.